# belong to

CEFR A2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/belong-to
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to be the property of someone or to be a member of a specific group.

For teachers: to be owned by a person or entity; to be a member of a club, organization, or category.

## Examples

- This blue umbrella belongs to me.
- I have lived in this city for years, but I still don't feel like I belong to this community.
- The ancient artifacts discovered during the excavation belong to the national museum and cannot be sold to private collectors.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The book belongs me." but "The book belongs to me." — the verb 'belong' requires the preposition 'to' before the owner or group.

## Usage notes

- always followed by the preposition 'to' and an object.
- Teaching tip: remind students that 'belong' is a stative verb and is almost never used in the continuous (-ing) form.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.